What Are You Listening To?

[Thraak]

[video=youtube;L7GysTulFaA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7GysTulFaA[/video]

Fantastic tune and stand-out track for me from their largely disappointing 'Eliminator' album.

To elaborate, it's disappointing from a fan who appreciates their blues side of the music the most due to the fact that its all drum machines and watered down/shortened and more restricted guitar solos instead of just the raw three piece jam sound that I prefer from their 70s records.

Great band!

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



One of my recent $5 Wal-Mart purchases. Already have it on vinyl but worth $5 for the cd I thought. Billy's sixth and his first #1 (U.S. and Aus.), with the best charting single being My Life at #3. Best for me is Honesty which only reached #24. Also lobe My Life and Rosalinda's Eyes. The album netted him 2 grammys including the big one, Album of The Year. Nothing I can say I don't like on here. A lot of jazzy type numbers with the album title being a reference to one of NYC's mid century jazz centers. Some jazz people on here, Steve Kahn, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Gale plus others I am not familiar with. Still, this is Billy Joel and this is a pop album. After the success of The Stranger, they were quick into the studio for the follow up with Phil Ramone at the boards. Billy was just hitting his peak and would go on to become one of the best selling artists of the era.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Half A Mile Away

Best Track - Honesty

If you search for tenderness
It isn't hard to find
You can have the love you need to live

But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind
It always seems to be so hard to give

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can always find someone
To say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve

But I don't want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

I can find a lover
I can find a friend
I can have security
Until the bitter end

Anyone can comfort me
With promises again
I know, I know

When I'm deep inside of me
Don't be too concerned
I won't ask for nothin' while I'm gone

But when I want sincerity
Tell me where else can I turn
'Cause you're the one that I depend upon

Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you

1) Big Shot **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEea624OBzM
2) Honesty ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuFScoO4tb0
3) My Life ***
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3JFEfdK_Ls
4) Zanzibar **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ot2PCwGF-s
5) Stiletto **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CgigVZefWQ
6) Rosalinda's Eyes ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNfT3ExqXLo
7) Half A Mile Away **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_3xrcrsZlA
8) Until The Night **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej71W-sgzsg
9) 52nd Street **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdgDq0rwxVA

3's - 3
2's - 6
1's - 0

Grade - 2.3

[Tiggi]

On the laptop.

One full album, and one sort of extended EP, both mostly live, from 1984 & 1986 respectively.

The majority of the material comes from their first two studio outings, and I have to say I found it all quite impressive. Some of their more recent, post-Fish material is up for investigation soon, but for the time being this is a straightforward entry onto the Buy List.

The early Genesis comparisons are still valid at this stage of their development.


AllMusic 3/5 stars.

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Lou's 13th solo album. I had ceased being a loyal fan years earlier, but I was still interested. He just lacked the seriousness and lyrical depth at this point for me. Yes I know he still had something to say. You just gotta move on at some point. Some good songs on here with the best for me being Doin' The Things That We Want To. Also love Endlessly Jealous and Turn To Me. Only thing I don't like is What Becomes A Legend Most. This album was well accepted by the critics but didn't sell all that well, but Lou never did. Actually #56 was quite better than his most recent ones managed. I Love You Suzanne is the only single listed which didn't even crack the pop charts. Lou probably didn't give a shit, with his supposed dislike of all those material things, being against the man and all, as he's living the high life of course.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - What Becomes A Legend Most

Best Track - Doin' The Things That We Want To

The other night we went to see Sam's play
Doin' the things that we want to
It was very physical it held you to the stage
Doin' the things that he want to ...

The guy's a cowboy from some rodeo
Doin' the things that we want to
The girl had once loved him, but now she want to go
Doin' the things that we want to ...

The man was bullish, the woman was a tease
Doin' the things that we want to
They fought with their words, their bodies and their deeds
Doin' the things that we want to
When they finished fighting, they excited the stage
Doin' the things that we want to
I was firmly struck by the way they had behaved
Doin' the things that we want to ...

It reminds me of the movies Marty made about New York
Doin' the things that we want to
Those frank and brutal movies that are so brilliant
Doin' the things that we want to
'Fool For Love' meet 'The Raging Bull'
Doin' the things that we want to
They're very inspirational, I love the things they do
Doin' the things that we want to ...

There's not much you hear on the radio today
Doin' the things that we want to
But you still can see a movie or a play
Doin' the things that we want to
Here's to 'Travis Bickle' and here's 'Johnny Boy'
Doin' the things that we want to
Growing up in the mean streets of New York
Doin' the things that we want to

I wrote this song 'cause I'd like to shake your hand
Doin' the things that we want to
In a way you guys are the best friends I ever had
Doin' the things that we want to ...

1) I Love You, Suzanne **
live - [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNmwg2kbtTU2"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNmwg2kbtTU
[/URL]2) Endlessly Jealous ***
3) My Red Joystick **
live - [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypGNwfzwJfo4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypGNwfzwJfo
[/URL]4) Turn To Me ***
live - [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qePqsljnwp0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qePqsljnwp0
[/URL]5) New Sensations **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WMWkl26n0U
6) Doin' The Things That We Want To ***
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dadkne2KmA
7) What Becomes A Legend Most *
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy7kJXuQpU8
8) Fly Into The Sun **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xedZu1LqUk
9) My Friend George **
10) High In The City **
11) Down At The Arcade **
live - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqJWLHUB98

3's - 3
2's - 7
1's - 1

Grade - 2.2

[Tiggi]

^ I have a few gaps in my Lou collection, and have just this afternoon downloaded New Sensations for review...

[Tiggi]

I thought this album was long deleted, but Griff's recent post alerted me to the fact that it's still available on Japanese import. It's expensive, but I couldn't resist and had to order a copy.

1977 release containing live material from 2 shows in 1964 & 1965.

I've read a fair bit about the sound of this being below par, but I'd have to say that for a mid-'60s live recording it's not bad at all. The shrieking girlies can get a bit shrill, but that's about it. There are plenty of musical fluffs, but that's no surprise when the boys could barely hear themselves playing.

A good live album that made both Mrs Tiggi & I grin like cheshire cats. Cheers Griff.


Allmusic 4/5 stars.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

BILLY JOEL "piano man" 1973, vinyl. #27us, #14au.

Billy's second album and one of his finest IMO.
a very country sounding collection of songs,shades of John Denver,most noteably on "you're my home" and Elton's style of the same period.
some great character songs on this one with some fine storytelling and all piano based tracks...Billy is always best when he makes use of his piano in the foreground of his songs...this is such a strong collection of songs that the title track just doesnt stand out from the rest at all!!!
three US singles on this one with only the title track reaching the US top 75 at #25, strangely enough more popular in Australia throughout his career, with the single reaching the top 20...was this album not released in the UK? as the single and album never charted there until the mid 1980's??

I LOVE THIS ALBUM:

worst track: travellin' prayer
best track: you're my home

tracks:

1. travellin' prayer**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwoNWr_B-t8 live
2. piano man***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxEPV4kolz0 live
3. aint no crime***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARbyxn7DJdk live
4. you're my home***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4D40r-E7yk live
5. the ballad of billy the kid***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZFkz5jjfuc live
6. worse comes to worst**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNQ8l7e-lKc live audio
7. stop in nevada***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLRy3RP_0WA audio
8. if i only had words***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW0ATkPZWCM audio
9. somewhere along the line**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23uuW79KBhE live
10.captain jack**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XczUacW9yBc live

3s=6
2s=4
1s=0

rating: 2.6

[Jerome]

An absolute classic (see previous post)

[Jerome]

By the way - anyone ever listen to Lee Clayton? http://youtu.be/aPG2TX4E5Og

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Not really many Elvis albums in my collection. That's not to say I'm not a fan. Just born a few years too late, as my fascination with music began around the British invasion. Elvis was already for them old people. Came to appreciate him much more after the brits tapped out. That would be quite a few years. This album is a budget compilation which includes only one hit for the king, Always On My Mind which was backed by the title track. This was one of those double sided singles where both tracks received considerable airplay. That single reached #16 on the country charts and took the album to #12 country and #46 pop. Other than those two tracks, the rest of the album are re-issues with the oldest being Red Foleys Old Shep from 1956. Barely made it through that one. No way I'm puttin' down my own dog. I'd just as soon watch the Kardashians before I'd do that. Favorite is an old Ames Brothers track that Elvis tackles equally well.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Is It So Strange

Best Track - Sentimental Me

Sentimental me
Guess I’ll always will be
So in love with you
Say you love me too
Sentimental me

Dreaming while I live
Living just to give
All my love to you
No one else will do
Sentimental me

Reaching for the moon
Wishing on the stars
On my honeymoon
I want to be where you are

Darling can't you see
It was meant to be
I'm in love with you
Say you love me too
Sentimental me

Darling can't you see
It was meant to be
I'm in love with you
No-one else will do

1) Separate Ways ***
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgCAteSu-IU
2) Sentimental Me ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQBrvYVpzZM
3) In My Way **
video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BAq-OYbzD4
4) I Met Her Today **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rldYb8jETOQ
5) What Now, What Next, Where To ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ_Uxf63-FA
6) Always On My Mind ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BirclTYVh74
7) I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUwFsinHMUk
8) Is It So Strange **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-ewX50lKRY
9) Forget Me Never **
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlZe6rovd5w
10) Old Shep ***
audio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKuiS3J52pw

3's - 5
2's - 5
1's - 0

Grade - 2.5